Component for a storage system

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Solution Overview

Problem

In automated stock control systems, the assembly of panels between support beams is cumbersome and prone to damaging cabling, requiring two people to align and fix panels correctly, which is inefficient and risky for cable damage.

Innovation Solution

A cover for support beams featuring a plate with an angled guide projection and abutment portion, allowing panels to be easily aligned and fixed without damaging cabling, and optionally including a line of weakness for splitting and engagement protrusions for secure mounting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If panels are manually aligned and fixed between support beams using existing methods, then panels can be mounted, but the process is cumbersome and requires two people, reducing productivity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly efficiencyVSAvoidassembly difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cover is pre-mounted on the support beam with guide projections and positioning features already in place. This preliminary action allows the panel to be easily aligned and fixed by a single person, eliminating the need for two people to manually align components during assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The cover acts as an intermediary component between the support beam and the panel. It provides guide projections and positioning features that facilitate easy alignment and mounting, simplifying the assembly process and improving productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If cabling is exposed on the surface of support beams during assembly, then cabling can be accessed, but the cabling is prone to damage, reducing reliability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecable protectionVSAvoidassembly complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The cover is pre-mounted on the support beam to protect the cabling before the panel assembly process begins. This preliminary protective action prevents cable damage during subsequent assembly operations while maintaining access to the cabling through designed openings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The cover provides beforehand protection for the cabling by being mounted on the support beam prior to panel installation. It cushions and protects the exposed cabling from potential damage during the assembly process while still allowing necessary access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Manufacturing precision

If panels are mounted without guide projections, then the mounting process is simpler, but misalignment occurs between panels and support beams, worsening manufacturing precision

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealignment accuracyVSAvoidcover structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cover incorporates guide projections and positioning features at specific locations where alignment is needed. This local addition of guiding features provides precise alignment without requiring complex structures throughout the entire assembly, maintaining manufacturing precision while limiting complexity to only where necessary.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS11357327B2Component for a storage system

Publication Date: 2022.06.14 SUPPLY POINT SYST

AI summary

A cover for a support beam in a storage system includes a plate; an abutment portion extending upwards from the plate; and a guide projection formed on the upper surface of the plate and extending at an angle to the abutment portion. The plate further includes at least one positioning projection formed in a side of the plate and extending along the guide projection.